How can (https://vitb12shot.com) and companies like this allowed to supply and administer B12 injections Eod and we Can not individually?

[WorkingProgress]

With the worrying thought that we may not , in the future be able to source our B12 ampules from Germany...... there has to be another way we can continue to self medicate and thrive as best we can without the worry.

Companies like the above can give much more frequent injections than GP's, consultants or any one in the medical profession in the UK.

Where and how do they source there material from as each technician, as they call them, must purchase their supplies from the host company who insists on the purity and validity of their B12 .

If they can do it...... can we not try to find ideas in which we can source and create some kind of institutional/ franchise mechanism of which is non profitable that will allow us to take control of the whole B12 sourcing problem?

There must be a way because I fear that, despite our huge voice, the medical community, politicians and pharma will continue to ignore any voice no matter how loud or vital.

Any thoughts..... anyone? Maybe some kind of Dallas Buyer's club thing (the movie idea) or setting up another kind of organization?

[wedgewood]

Such a scheme would involve using lawyers no doubt . That company vitb12shot.com can promote their scheme because the B12 injections they are advocating are solely for NON-MEDICAL purposes , administered in Beauty salons, beauty clinics , hairdressers ,etc , for “Slowing ageing” , “improving your skin” and other such nonsense . Yes , it’s crazy . I’m not clever enough to think of a possible scheme to get round the crazy U.K. prescription edict for B12 ampoules .

The German health authorities are not stupid, and they allow B12 ampoules to be sold OTC , but only from pharmacies .

Since Brexit the German online pharmacies who only shipped to EU countries have excluded U.K. And now that some pharmacies are applying the pharmaceutical regulations strictly ,the situation is even worse .

I only hope that the few that are still shipping to U.K. will continue to turn a blind eye to their regulations . 🤞🤞🤞

[helvella in reply to wedgewood]

I've imagined B12 cruises - on the line of the booze cruises of yesteryear. Maybe include a mini-break in Dublin or even the Isle of Man? (I would suggest just going to Dublin but I am not aware that Ireland is any better than the UK?)

Or, and this would be incredibly vexatious to some, what if one of the nations broke with the England orthodoxy and permitted B12 booths?

Gretna Green - get married AND B12 shots.

Chepstow - go for the races AND B12 shots.

[Jillymo in reply to helvella]

You made me laugh -

But what fun we could have on a days outing trying to source our B12. I will give Gretna Green a wide birth I dont want to have to get married just to get a B12 shot.

We could go Eurotunnel through France to collect our goodies. 💉

[wedgewood in reply to helvella]

Yes , I’m afraid that Ireland is no good . Prescription only there too !

The other suggestions would be great if they were possible!

The lack of B12 injections is good for “big pharma,” because then GPs prescribe drugs like anti-depressants and other drugs for the symptoms caused by lack of or insufficient B12 injections, which is never-ending , as they don’t help !

A clever business man /woman might be able to find a solution . But he/she would want a good profit !

[helvella in reply to wedgewood]

Perhaps Martyn Hooper could discuss it with Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services? Allowing anyone to get B12 injections, safely and for a reasonably low price.

After all, if there is one thing towns and cities across the UK have in abundance, it is empty high street properties. I can imagine a small shop being converted to a B12 gallery. Doesn’t need much space – sufficient for good hygiene and a modest waiting area with a small cubicle for privacy when doing the injection.

You can imagine Wales doing quite well out of each English patient. (Apologies to Anthony Minghella and Michael Ondaatje.)

[wedgewood in reply to helvella]

The medical community would be outraged, and do anything to stop such a scheme !

[WorkingProgress in reply to wedgewood]

Yep... I understand but where do they get their B12 ampules from..... and how do they do it is my thoughts so if they can maybe "we can".

[Dancers1 in reply to wedgewood]

Thank you for all your invaluable information and guidance. Could we buy from jersey?

Or are there any other European countries other than Germany we can buy from. Thank you

[wedgewood in reply to Dancers1]

No you can’t get B12, ampoules inJersey without a prescription . You can in France , where it is an over -the counter item . I’ve never tried to buy from France though . I assume that they have online pharmacies there . , so it should be possible .

[WorkingProgress in reply to wedgewood]

It may be a good idea to have a list of pharmacies from multiple countries that deliver to the UK so that options are open. Any thoughts on this?

[wedgewood in reply to WorkingProgress]

I found 3 French online pharmacies yesterday and none of them had any B12 ampoules , only tablets .

[WorkingProgress in reply to wedgewood]

Hmmm yes..... my findings so far too

[wedgewood]

When I emailed versandapo and asked them why they kept running out of B12 ampoules , they told me that their suppliers were not sending them enough , so these online pharmacies do not get their supplies directly from the Pharmaceutical companies who produce them

They are supplied by middle men, who will only deal with an established company . Perhaps that’s where vitb12shot.com get theirs from.

There are over 1,800 online pharmacies in Germany . I’m going to try and find one it two more who will ship to U.K. for the time being at least .

[oyatek]

Wow is it really that difficult to get B12 ampules in Europe? Even cyano? I'm in Indonesia, Cyanocobalamin vials and ampules are available OTC in any dosages.

[jaybirdxNHM in reply to oyatek]

wow! I must move, do they authorities take mad old ladies ???

[oyatek in reply to jaybirdxNHM]

sure! come over

[WorkingProgress in reply to oyatek]

Would it rude to ask of a few names of pharmacies in Indonesia to see if we can get B12 delivered to the UK?

[WorkingProgress in reply to oyatek]

Would it rude to ask of a few names of pharmacies in Indonesia to see if we can get B12 delivered to the UK?

[oyatek in reply to WorkingProgress]

tokopedia.com or lazada.com - those are Indonesian "Amazons"

[WorkingProgress in reply to oyatek]

The lazada.com is just a page the tokopedia.com is more promising but like amazon etc how can we guarantee legitimate product .....so it would be a much better idea to go with tried and tested pharmacies imo.

[oyatek in reply to WorkingProgress]

What do you mean by "just a page"? If .com doesn't open for you try also lazada.co.id/

Pharmacies in Indonesia sell the same B12 as on Tokopedia.

[WorkingProgress in reply to oyatek]

much better thanks that one works

[oyatek in reply to WorkingProgress]

Before buying chat with the seller about delivery to UK

[oyatek in reply to WorkingProgress]

Also I know that cyano ampules are available OTC in Armenia, India

[WorkingProgress in reply to oyatek]

Thank you so much for your help.

[Dilly_blue]

What are the rules for bringing things like B12 ampoules over in your luggage from places like Germany (eg)? Is there a limit as to how much you can bring over for personal use before you have to pay something like import duty? Also, is the amount of liquid an issue (esp if flying)?

I have tried to persuade my dentist to offer B12 injections (I think they do some cosmetic procedures as well), but no luck so far!

I wonder what the regulations are for resale of B12 ampoules are in UK, for wellness purposes? Eg if someone had a close friend or family member with a business who may be able to procure B12 ampoules, would they be able to pass them on / sell them to a friend? I was also wondering what businesses would be allowed to procure B12 ampoules for ‘wellness’; it would be great if it were like having a Makro card and any small business could buy them!

[doityourself]

interesting question. My son asked me why I dont form a company anf inport b12. It must be something to do with licencing maybe?

My local , perscribing chemist will give b12 shots for PA. I was asked minimum of details; gp, address, age, medical conditions. He is willing to give every 8 weeks but doesnt seem very strict, Ive had every 6 weeks. I manage to get by with his, my gps and a willing retired nursing friends help.

I think the idea of a self help group is excellent but i fear laws around such an idea would prevent us. Question is which laws ? One would have to be VERY certain before enbarking on such a benture.

[helvella in reply to doityourself]

Not simple. (Even the "what licence(s) do you require" bit takes some of reading.) Not cheap. Requires somebody with appropriate qualifications and premises.

Import a human medicine

Guidance for UK wholesalers and manufacturers on how to import human medicines including unlicensed medicines, how to apply for a licence and how much it costs.

gov.uk/guidance/import-a-hu...

But I do like the idea!

[doityourself in reply to helvella]

thanks for that. Im going to give it a read!

[Dilly_blue in reply to helvella]

I’m sure I read somewhere (maybe a previous thread a few months ago) that B12 is in a bit of a loophole, that on the one hand it is classed as a prescription only medicine in the UK, but that it is also classed as a wellness health supplement at the same time, which is why cosmetic clinics are allowed to sell injections, as long as they are for ‘wellness’ purposes rather than medical conditions?? (Ie use of the words ‘wellness’ and ‘boost’ in packaging etc).

I thought this was why Holland and Barrett sell the methylcobalamin spray, and it is called ‘B12 Boost’ (as I suspect methyl spray comes under that rule too)??

I wonder if because hydroxocobalamin is only injectable that this means it can’t be available OTC as a ‘wellness boost’, but has to be got from a clinic??

It would be really good to get to the bottom of this!

[helvella in reply to Dilly_blue]

It isn't the B12 that makes it prescription-only, it is (as you suggest) solely that it is injectable. All injectables are POM in the UK.

We are all allowed to pay someone else for a actual B12 injection. But split across two grounds, as you say. Wellness or Medical.

The problem (other than cost) is that if you ask someone offering B12 for wellness, they should not give one to you if you need it for health.

Maybe, if your GP insists you are not B12 deficient, or it is already being adequately treated, a wellness injector should still offer them? But I think the moment you answer a question that you have a B12 issue, they will no longer allow the injection.

But you can buy hydroxocobalamin, and adenosylcobalamin easily enough.

[Dilly_blue in reply to helvella]

Does that mean that you can get hydroxocobalamin in forms other than injectable? (Eg spray or patch? or tablet?). And are there benefits to one form of B12 or other? (hydroxo or methyl or adeno or other?). From blood tests that I have had I don’t think I have an absorption issue (I have functional deficiency), so am wondering if I am better taking a particular type of B12. I only get injections every 3 months, and symptoms return after 5 days. I tried taking lots of methylcobalamin spray between injections, but that didn’t help (sky high active B12, but still raised MMA). I am still under investigation, so am not ready to self inject yet (am anticipating more tests in coming months), but am just wondering if there may be a long term alternative to injecting for me

[helvella in reply to Dilly_blue]

In the UK, at least, hydroxocobalamin is readily available in tablet form.

I think I'd rather defer to others here on all the rest of your questions.

[Dilly_blue in reply to helvella]

Thanks for this

[Technoid in reply to Dilly_blue]

Hydrodoxocobalamin tablets or sublingual are available online from pasioonline or sunday.de. Not sure why pharmacists dont bother to stock - I could only get cyanocobalamin from my local pharmacy.

[Dilly_blue in reply to Technoid]

thanks so much for this - I will definitely give it a go once all the investigations are done D

[Suzibelle]

Maybe someone who is based in Europe and business-savvy should set up a reshipper/forwarding service along the lines of MyUKmailbox or myUSaddress and specialise in B12? These forwarding companies allow you to buy things that aren't shipped here to Australia, for example - it gets sent to their address and they on-forward it to you. I've done similar in the past, getting something sent to friends in Scotland who then forward it to me. I just hope OTC B12 continues here in Oz (no indications that it's not but I don't trust politicians), otherwise I'll be going to the vet suppliers and ordering a big bottle from them!

[EllaNore]

This is what I was wondering about. They market b12 injections as beauty aids and energy booster and weight loss. But we can't get it to save our lives. Celebrities take injections to boost their energy before performing. Some are doing it for weight loss. They can afford to pay a private person to inject them. But how does this private person get permission for daily or weekly injections? Or is anyone even monitoring it? There is a huge disconnect somewhere. As a Hollywood super vitamin, people accept daily injections? but not as a life saving necessity? Crazy. Here's an article on celebrities that inject. Kind of ticks me off. I feel like contacting one of these celebrities and telling them the real reason people need B12 injections, in hopes they will represent or help us change the stigma.

b12patch.com/blog/justin-bi...

[Hidden in reply to EllaNore]

I liked a comment at the end ...... B12 Deficiency can really get on your nerves. !!!!

[EllaNore in reply to Hidden]

haha 🤣